Detergent dispenser



Aug. 10, 1965 R. L. PERL ,73

DETERGENT DISPENSER Filed June 25, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR RICHARD L. PERL a%,m m

ATTORNEYS Aug. 10, 1965 R. L. PERL 3,199,733

DETERGENT DISPENSER Filed June 25, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. RICHARD L. PERL ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,199,733 DETERGENT DKSEENSER Richard L. Perl, Mansfield, Ohio, assignor to The Tappan Company, Mansfieid, Ghio, a corporation of Ohio Fiied Eune 25, 1964, Ser. No. 377,851 12 Claims. (Cl. 222-70) The present invention relates as indicated to a detergent dispenser and more particularly to an improved detergent dispenser for automatically supplying detergent during the washing cycle of an automatic dish washing machine or the like.

An object of the present invention is to provide a timecontrolled detergent dispenser provided with a cover adapted in one position to completely close such compartment and in a second position to be moved completely away from the front plane of the compartment thus to expose the same to the washing liquid.

A more specific object is to provide such a compartment cover which is mounted for movement both away from the front plane of the compartment and for rotation relative thereto thereby to prevent sticking of the cover and to substantially expose the compartment to the washing liquid to effect complete washing of the detergent therefrom and provide self-cleaning of both the compartment and the cover.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following descrip tion proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a dishwasher embodying the detergent dispenser of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, enlarged view of the inside panel of the dishwasher door with the cover of the detergent dispenser being shown in an open position and the door panel broken away to show portions of the control mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view talten on line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 55 of PEG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view of a portion of FIG. 3, with the dispenser cover being shown, however, in a closed position; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 77 of FIG. 5.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are employed to designate like parts, the dishwasher embodying the present invention is generally indicated at 19 and comprises a cabinet 12 and a bottom hinged door 14 which is pivotally mounted at the bottom and front of the cabinet in a well-known manner to permit movement thereof between a vertical, closed position and a substantially horizontal, open position. The door 14 includes a hand grip portion 15 at the top thereof for facilitating opening and closing the door about such hinged connection. The dishwasher further includes a suitable control means exemplified by control knob 13 which is operatively connected to a conventional timer unit 2% which controls the washing operation. Any suitable spraying or like means can be mounted within the washing chamber of the dishwasher for directing washing liquid thereinto for direct impingement on the dishes and utensils to be washed, with such spraying means not being shown and forming no part of the present invention.

The inside panel 24 of the door 14 is formed with a recessed portion 26 terminating in an inwardly offset mounting flange 27 which defines a generally rectangular opening 23 adapted to receive the main body 30 of the detergent dispenser of the present invention. The dispenser body 30 is provided with a later-ally extending peripheral rim portion 32, with such rim portion being contiguously disposed on the mounting flange 27 and secured thereto by a plurality of preferably self-tapping screws commonly designated at 34 which extend through openings in the mounting flange into openings provided therefor in the rim portion 32. A sealing gasket 35 is provided for sealing such mounting.

The dispenser body 30 further comprises a pair of detergent-containing compartments 36 and 33, with compartment 36 in the form shown being partially covered by a screen 39, best shown in FIG. 2, which can be mounted on the dispenser body in any suitable manner. The top of the screen 39 terminates approximately at the vertical midpoint of the compartment and the bottom thereof terminates relatively adjacent the rim 32. The screen 39 is preferably of relatively fine mesh size and functions to retain the detergent in the compartment 36 until washed therefrom by the washing liquid during the first wash cycle, thus preventing the raw granular detergent particles from contacting and possibly adversely affecting the metal surfaces of pans and the like. The second compartment 38 is adapted to be closed by a dispenser cover 49 which maintains the compartment 38 closed until a subsequent Wash cycle in a manner to be presently described.

Referring now to the manner in which the cover 4 is operatively mounted on the dispenser body 39 for alternately closing compartment 38 and substantially uncovering the same, the rear wall 44 of the compartment 38 has preferably integrally formed therewith a tubular boss 46 adapted to loosely receive a latch pin 48. The latch pin 43 is threaded at both ends with the forward end thereof being received in hub portion 50 of the cover 49. The opposite threaded end portion of the latch pin receives a latch pin head 52 of substantially greater diameter than the latch pin. The hub portion 50 or" the cover is formed substantially ofi center to permit the cover to be rotated away from the compartment opening as will be hereinafter described. The cover 4% is shown in a closed position in FIG. 6 seated on shoulder 54 formed in the rim portion 32 of the dispenser body.

Disposed around the boss 46 and the hub 50 of the cover 40 is a coil spring 58, one end of which is laterally turned to extend parallel to the spring axis for seating such end in an apertured lug portion formed adjacent the base of the boss 46 thereby preventing rotation of such spring end relative to the boss 46. The opposite end convolution of the spring is similarly laterally turned and is retained in an apertured lug portion 62 formed at the base of the hub 59. It will thus be seen that when the cover is moved from an open position illustrated in FIG. 3 to a closed position as illustrated in FIG. 6, the spring 58 is not only compressed, but torsion is created therein by virtue of the relative rotation between the opposite end convolutions of the spring. To facilitate movement of the cover to a closed position, the cover is provided with two outwardly extending tabs 64 and 66 which may be grasped by the operator for rotating the cover. The rim 32 is provided with a forwardly extending stop portion 63 which extends into the plane of movement of the cover at when the same is rota-ted by the operator from an open position. When the cover contacts the stop 68, the cover is accurately aligned with the shoulder 54 and can be simply pressed against the bias of spring 58 to a seated position on the shoulder, the cover being automatically retained in such position by means to be presently described.

A latch bar 79 is mounted behind the compartment 38 and is formed with a notch 71 in the bottom thereof, with the bottom 72 of such notch resting on the surface of the latch pin 43 when the cover 49 is in a closed position, referring to FIG. 6. Insuch position, the latch bar prevents the latch pin head 52 from forward movement thereby preventing opening movement of the cover 46 until the latch bar 79 has been vertically lifted to a point wherein the notch 71 is vertically coextensive with the latch pin head 52. The latch bar 7% is biased downwardly by means of a spring 74 the upper end of which extends through an opening adjacent the bottom of the latch bar, with the lower end thereof being secured to an integral lug 75 extending from the rear wall 44 of the compartment 38 by means of a preferably self-tapping screw 76. The spring 74 continually urges the latch bar downwardly, whereby when the cover 46 is moved to a closed position with the latch pin head 52 passing behind the latch bar 7%), the latter automatically is urged to a position wherein the bottom 72 of the notch 71 contacts the periphery of the latch pin 48 thus preventing movement of the latch pin head 52 until the latch bar 70 is subsequently lifted.

As best shown in FIG. 7, the rear wall 44 of the compartment $8 is formed with rearwardly extending guide lugs commonly designated at 78. The lugs areadapted to confine lateral movement of the lower end of the latch bar and are provided with recessed shoulder portions 89 which limit forward movement of the latch bar. Preferably self-tapping retaining screws 82 extend into openings in the guide lugs 78 for retaining the latch bar in position, with the screw heads and the shoulder portions 80 being spaced to loosely receive the lower end of the latch bar.

The upper end of the latch bar 76 is formed with a laterally extending portion 34 which terminates in a downwardly depending end portion 86 of reduced width, the end portions 86 being adapted to extend loosely -through a slot 88 formed in a cam follower member generally indicated at 90. The cam follower 90 is additionally formed with two inclined slots 92 and 94, for laterally moving the follower as the same is vertically lifted. The top portion of the cam follower is formed with a lateral extension 96 having a forwardly struck shoulder 98. The latter extends into the path of movement of a cam 10%} preferably integrally formed with the control knob 18 at the inner end thereof. The control knob 18 is frictionally retained on the timer shaft 106, and, if desired, a holding screw 108 can additionally be provided which extends into engagement with a tlneaded opening formed in the end of the timer shaft. A cover 16% preferably snaps on the control knob 18 to cover the interior thereof. The cam 160 is formed with a groove 102, FIG. 3, adapted to receive a pin 104 secured to the timer shaft 106, such pin and groove arrangement insuring proper alignment of the control knob when mounted and also insuring rotation of the cam and the control knob by the timer shaft.

The cam 10% is formed with a cam finger 119 which is adapted to engage the shoulder 98 of the cam follower 90 when the cam 100 has rotated a predetermined distance as controlled by the timer 20. As the cam finger 110 engages the forward end 98 of the cam follower, continued rotation of the cam in a clockwise direction, referring to FIG. 5, will effect a lifting of the cam follower 9t] and the latch bar 71 operatively connected thereto. As the cam follower 90 is raised, the timer shaft, through the inclined slot 94, will move the cam follower to the left, as viewed in FIG. 5. The lower portion of the cam follower is similarly moved to the left as the cam follower is lifted by means of a rivet '112 mounted on the mounting panel 114, the rivet riding in the inclined groove 92. The lateral moving or shifting of the cam follower 90 when lifted provides a relatively quick drop-off of the cam finger from the end 98 of the cam follower thereby limiting the vertical travel required of the cam follower and the latch bar.

The operation of the detergent dispenser above described is brieliy as follows. The dishwasher door 14 is moved to an open position and the compartments 36 and 33 filled to the desired level with detergent. The cover 48 at this time will be in an open position from the previous operation and the compartment 38 substantially uncovered. The cover at is then closed, with the operator grasping the tabs 64- and 66 and rotating the cover, referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, clockwise about the axis of the latch pin 48. The stop 68 automatically positions the cover 41) in alignment with the shoulder 54 whereby the cover may be pressed forward into a seated position, against the bias of the coil spring 58. As the cover 40 is pushed forward, the latch pin head 52 is moved behind the latch bar '70 whereby the spring 74 urges the latch bar downwardly until the bottom 72 of the notch '71 formed in the latch bar contacts the periphery of the latch pin 48 thereby locking the latch pin in a retracted position and effectively disabling the spring 58. When the cover 4t is moved to a closed position, the spring 53 is thus not only compressed, but as a result of the relative rotation between the opposite end convolutions of the spring, there is torsion created in the spring, thereby conditioning the spring for subsequent movement of the cover to an open position.

With the cover 4% closed, the latch bar '70 and cam follower 9d are in their lowermost position wherein the rivet 112 and timer shaft 1% are disposed relatively adjacent the top of the inclined grooves $12 and 94, respectively. At this time the shoulder 98 of the cam follower is out of contact with the cam finger 110, with the setting of the latter being controlled by the control knob 18.

The detergent in the compartment 36 is washed out by the washing liquid during the first wash cycle, with the washing liquid entering the compartment through the perforations in the screen 39 to wash the detergent into the washing chamber. The compartment 38 remains closed by the cover 40 until the second wash cycle is reached in the washing operation, as controlled by the timer 2h. The latter, through the timer shaft 106, rotates the control knob 18 and the cam 106 during the entire Washing operation, and at a predetermined time the cam finger 110 will engage the shoulder 5 8 of the cam follower and will gradually lift the cam follower as above described, at the same time lifting the latch bar 70 operatively connected thereto. As such lifting continues with the continued rotation of the cam 10%, the latch bar 70 will be raised to a point wherein the groove 71 is vertically coextensive with the latch pin head 52 at which time the latch pin will be released and, together with the cover, forced to the right, referring to FIG. 3, under the urging of spring 58, with the latter moving the cover completely away from the front, vertical plane of the compartment. As the cover 40 is moved forwardly by the spring 58, the torsion previously built up in the spring will simultaneously rotate the cover to a position illustrated in FIGS. 25 thereby substantially uncovering the compartment 38. The detergent therein is then free to empty into the washing chamber with any remaining detergent being washed therefrom by the washing liquid during the subsequent wash cycle. The rotative movement of the cover, and more particularly the force caus ing such rotative movement, substantially eliminates the possibility of the cover sticking in a seated position. The cover 40 remains open during the remainder of the washing operation thereby to provide self-cleaning of the compartment 38 and the cover 40.

After the cover 40 has been moved to an open position, the cam finger lltl Will continue to lift the cam follower and the latch bar 7% until the cam finger rotates past the shoulder 98 of the cam follower at which time the latch bar and cam follower will be urged downwardly by the spring 74. This will not affect the position of the cover, however, since the bottom 72 of the.

notch 71 will merely engage the periphery of the latch pin head 52. The latch bar is conditioned, however, for downward movement to lock the cover when the same is moved by the operator to a closed position.

It will thus be seen that the detergent dispenser of the present invention provides distinct advantages over presently available dispensers of this general type. By moving the cover completely away from the front plane as well as rotating the cover relative thereto, the compartment 38 is substantially compl tely exposed to the washing liquid. This provides self-cleaning of both the cover and the compartment by the washing liquid. As a result, proper seating of the cover is continuously effected and malfunctioning of the cover movement due to clogging or sticking is virtually eliminated. Moreover, the force afiecting the rotative movement of the cover further tends to eliminate the problem of sticking of the cover.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims or the equivalent of such be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. A detergent dispenser for supplying detergent to the washing chamber of dish washing machines and the like comprising compartment means adapted to receive and temporarily store detergent received therein, cover means adapted in a closed position to cover said compartment thereby retaining the detergent therein, means for mounting said cover for movement between such closed position and an open position wherein the cover is displaced laterally out of the front plane of the compartment and rotated to substantially uncover the compartment to permit emptying of the detergent into the washing chamber,

eans for releasably retaining said cover in such closed position, and means for releasing said retaining means to permit movement of said cover to such open position.

2. A detergent dispenser for supplying detergent to the washing chamber of dish washing machines and the like comprising compartment means adapted to receive and temporarily store detergent received therein, cover means adapted in a closed position to cover said compartment thereby retainin the detergent therein, means for resiliently mounting said cover for movement between such closed position and an open position wherein the cover is displaced laterally out of the front plane of the compartment and rotated to substantially uncover the compartment to permit emptying of the detergent into the washing chamber, means for disabling said resilient mounting means for releasably retaining said cover in such closed position, and means for releasing said disabling means to permit movement of said cover to such open position.

3. A detergent dispenser for supplying detergent to the washing chamber of dish washing machines and the like comprising compartment means adapted to receive and temporarily store detergent received therein, cover means adapted in a closed position to cover said compartment thereby retaining the detergent therein, spring means operatively connected between said cover and said compartment, said spring means when unrestrained displacing said cover to an open position laterally out of the front plane of said compartment and to a rotated position substantially uncovering said compartment to permit emptying of the detergent into the washing chamber, means for disabling said spring and releasably retaining said cover in such closed position, and means for releasing said disabling means to permit movement of said cover by said spring means to such open position.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said spring means when moved from its unrestrained position with the cover open to its disabled condition when the cover is closed is compressed and torsion loaded by virtue of the relative rotation between the opposite end convolutions thereof, said spring when released expanding to move said cover forward and relieving such torsion loading through rotation of said cover.

5. The combination of claim 3 wherein said means for disabling said spring and releasably retaining said cover in a .closed position comprises latch pin means operatively connected at one end to said cover and at its other end to an enlarged latch pin head disposed to the exterior of said compartment, and a latch bar adapted to resiliently contact the periphery of said latch pin means in advance of said enlarged latch pin head for releasably retaining said late-h pin means and said cover in a retracted, closed position.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said latch bar is resiliently biased to a position releasably retaining said latch pin means and wherein said latch bar is formed with a not-ch at least as great dimensionally as the diameter of said enlarged latch pin head, whereby when said latch bar is moved by said releasing means said notch is aligned with said enlarged latch pin head thereby freeing said latch pin means and said cover for movement under the bias of said spring.

7. A detergent dispenser for supplying detergent to the washing chamber of dish washing machines and the like comprising compartment means adapted to receive and temporarily store detergent received therein, cover means adapted in a closed position to cover said compartment thereby retaining the detergent therein, spring means operatively connected at opposite ends to said compartment and said cover means for mounting said cover for movement between such closed position and an open position wherein the cover is displaced laterally out of the front plane of the compartment and rotated to substantially uncover the compartment to permit emptying of the detergent into the washing chamber, latch bar means for disabling said spring and releasably retaining said cover in a closed position, and time-controlled means for releasing said latch bar means, thereby freeing said spring to move said cover to such open position.

8. The combination of claim 7 further including latch pin means one end of which is secured to said cover and the opposite end of which is adapted to be engaged by said latch bar means for retaining said latch pin means and thus said cover in a retracted position.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said latch pin means is secured to said cover at a point spaced from the center of said cover, the axis of said latch pin means serving as the axis about which said cover is rotated by said spring means whereby said cover when thus rotated substantially uncovers said compartment.

16). A detergent dispenser for supplying detergent to the washing chamber of dish washing machines and the like comprising compartment means adapted to receive and temporarily store detergent received therein, cover means adapted in a closed position to cover said compart ment thereby retaining the detergent therein, resilient means for mounting said cover for movement between such closed position and an open position wherein the cover is displaced laterally out of the front plane of the compartment and rotated to substantially uncover the compartment to permit emptying of the detergent into the washing chamber, latch means for disabling said resilient means .and releasably retaining said cover in a closed position, and time-controlled means for releasing said latch means.

11. The combination of claim 10 wherein said latch means includes a latch bar adapted in one position of movement to disable said resilient means, and wherein said time-controlled means comprises timer means, cam means operatively connected to said timer means for rotation thereby, and cam follower means connected at one end to said latch bar for movement therewith and having an opposite end portion extending into the path of movement of said cam means, the latter being operative to move said cam follower means and said latch bar to a position releasing said resilient means for moving said cover to such open position.

12. A detergent dispenser for supplying detergent to the washing chamber of dish washing machines and the like comprising a plurality of detergent-receiving compartments, cover means associated with at least one of said 7 compartments, said cover means adapted in a closed position to cover said one compartment thereby retaining the detergent therein, resilient means for mounting said cover for movement between such closed position and an open position wherein the cover is moved completely away from the front plane of said one compartment and rotated to substantially uncover said one compartment to permit emptying of the detergent into the washing chamber, latch means for disabling said resilient means and for releas- 15 ably retaining said cover in such closed position, and

8 means for releasing said latch means to permit movement of said cover by said resilient means to such open position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,577,222 3/26 Gerbig et a1 11951.l5 X 2,698,022 12/54 Fahnoe 22254 X 2,973,769 3/61 Jacobs et al 222-70 X 3,019,802 2/62 Mercer 22270 X 3,028,051 4/62 Jacobs 222-70 X 3,038,641 6/62 Buzicky 222-1445 X 3,102,664 9/63 Lines 22270 3,126,131 3'/64 'Barbulesco et al 222504 X LOUIS I. DEMBO, Primary Examiner 

1. A DETERGENT DISPENSER FOR SUPPLYING DETERGENT TO THE WASHING CHAMBER OF DISH WASHING MACHINES AND THE LIKE COMPRISING COMPARTMENT MEANS ADAPTED TO RECEIVE AND TEMPORARILY STORE DETERGENT RECEIVED THEREIN, COVER MEANS ADAPTED IN A CLOSED POSITION TO COVER SAID COMPARTMENT THEREBY RETAINING THE DETERGENT THEREIN, MEANS FOR MOUNTING SAID COVER FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN SUCH CLOSED POSITION AND AN OPEN POSITION WHEREIN THE COVER IS DISPLACED LATERALLY OUT OF THE FRONT PLANE OF THE COMPARTMENT AND ROTATED TO SUBSTANTIALLY UNCOVER THE COMPARTMENT TO PREMIT EMPTYING OF THE DETERGENT INTO TE WASHING CHAMBER. MEANS FOR RELEASABLY RETAINING SAID COVER IN SUCH CLOSED POSITION, AND MEANS FOR RELEASING SAID RETAINING MEANS TO PERMIT MOVEMENT OF SAID COVER TO SUCH OPEN POSITION. 